The moms that bf or pump please help

My DC is 2 weeks old. I am trying to exclusively pump. I am pumping every 2-2.5 hours and getting anywhere from 1.5-2 oz each time. Between yesterday and today I have had to make 3 formula bottles bc my DC has been screaming for more. What am I doing wrong?? I can't stop crying bc I feel like I am failing.
This is my 2nd DC and with the first I had no supply and had to supplement from day 1.
I don't want to fail again....my first dc went to all formula by 6 weeks, I don't want to do that again.
I don't bf because this kids latch is so strong and breaks the skin and it is so painful, I went to an LC and they said the latch is good and they don't know why the skin is breaking, so due to pain I choose to pump.
Thank you for reading this far, I just can't stop crying that I am failing at feeding my own baby.

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

I understand your choice to exclusively pump. I did for both my DDs for the same reason. I was told by the LC to continue pumping for 3-5 minutes after you don't see any more milk coming out. This signals your body to produce more milk. Are you drinking enough? Are the breast shields the right size? If they are too small, you could be restricting your flow of milk. I didn't pump as often as you are. I only pumped when DD would eat; I tried to have my pumping on the same schedule as her, sort of as if she were feeding from me. So I would feed her, and then pump after she went back to sleep. That may have helped with milk production and let down. Are you timing your pumping sessions with her eating? And are you relaxed when you pump? That will help. I used to watch TV when I pumped...it took my mind off of what I was doing, helped pass the time, and help to relax me. You can also try some Fenugreek to increase your supply. But first try drinking more water. Good luck. I hope it gets easier for you.

The moms that bf or pump please help

Thank you for replying.
I think I am drinking enough...I feel like I am always filling up my bottle and when I pump in the middle of the night I am usually downing a glass.
The shields are right...the LC checked that
I am usually watching tv or online while pumping so I think I ram relaxed.
I am just so frustrated that this is not working and I am taking time away from my older DC to try and do this.

The moms that bf or pump please help

I would try taking Fenugreek supplements, eating oatmeal, drinking Gatorade. Good luck!!

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

Have you tried nipple shields while nursing? They were a lifesaver for me.

I would just keep pumping for longer intervals. Your body will catch up in may take a day or two. Hang in there

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

I EP as well. I had issues from time to time with supply. Taking More Milk Plus really helped me. Also making sure I ate and drank enough. Adding pumping sessions where possible. And latching the baby on and letting her nurse even for small periods of time. My daughter latched but I had overactive let down and she would just scream like crazy and choke and gag. I got nipple shields and that helped me be able to nurse her sometimes.

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

If you are having pain with the baby latched, then you DO NOT have a good latch.I am surprised a LC would say it's ok, when clearly it is not. I would try another LC. The LC's in the hospital after giving birth were not particularly helpful either time for me. I used a private LC with both my kids (one couldn't latch at all and the other latched on like Jaws :) Here are 2 recommendations:
Joy Padula, RN, BSN, IBCLC
Bellmore Lactation Services (516) 728-4336 (I used her with the baby who latched like jaws)
or
http://www.cwgenna.com/services.html
Catherine Watson Genna is the LC who trains other LC's around the world. I really think you just need better help. Also like a PP said, try a nipple shield. The more the baby is at your breast, the more milk you will produce. In regard to pumping, try "power pumping", which is 10 minutes pumping, 10 minutes off, for 3 cycles. You can do that at least once (or more) times a day. You are not failing at all, you just need better help. If you need to supplement a bit while you get help that is ok. Keep up the good work! You are really doing great!! Feel free to PM me if you want!

The moms that bf or pump please help

What everyone else said and also make sure you're getting enough lean protein. GL!!

The moms that bf or pump please help

I was in your shoes and I know how frustrating it can be! Just keep pumping....and try mothers milk tea 3 times a day along with the fenugreek capsules. I noticed a huge difference with those. Just keep it up no matter how frustrating it can be!

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

I have read about mother milk tea but I am not seeing it in stores. For some reason I thought I read that Target sold it. I was there last night and couldn't find it. Where do you purchase it? I saw on amazon but curious if an actual store as it.

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

Drink tons and tons and tons of water. And when you're done drink some more.

I don't know if this is an option for you but if you let the baby actually latch and breast feed from you, babies are a lot better at getting milk out than a pump so that will signal your body to make more. If you started wih a few days and see your supply has increased them maybe you can go back to ep.

Mother milk tea I bought at a vitamin store and it definitely helped me. The fenugreek not as much.

The moms that bf or pump please help

Stress will def limit your production. Like above suggestions drink A LOT of fluids thats what helps me pump (only) 28+ oz a day. I pump when I wake up and before I go to bed. Try massaging breasts, hot shower before pumping that also helps me. My DD is only on my breast for comfort not to feed but I feel the pumping sends the same signal as latching to make more milk.
Don't give up just try to relax ..if your baby has to supplement before your making enough of your own milk then so be it.. your NOT a failure and your baby will live..Good Luck to you :)

The moms that bf or pump please help

If you aren't bf'ing bc your nipples were sore, I would try again. My nipples were cracked and bleeding the first 3 weeks, then they toughened up and are totally fine now. It takes time for them to get used to it. Wipe them with water after DC nurses, dry them completely and put lanolin on and let them air out. GL.

The moms that bf or pump please help

Thank you so much for all of your replies. I am def going to try and increase my water and I will drink the Gatorade and I told DH I need to buy the tea as well.
As far as the LC I saw all of them in the hospitals as well as the head RN for the maternity ward and they all said the latch was great. I even went back to the LC a few days after we were released from the hospital and they still said they saw nothing wrong with the latch.
Are the nipple guards good for preventing the cracking? When I nurse him directly shooting pains are running through me and I am usually crying bc it hurts so much!
I am def going to keep trying bc I really would love for this to work.
Thank you again for all of your ideas and tips....I hope I can find something that works.

The moms that bf or pump please help

The more you can get him to latch on the better in terms of your supply. I never had any pain so I can't imagine what you're going through but if I were in your shoes I would probably consider the nipple shield. Also definitely put on plenty of lanolin after each feeding. GL and I'm so sorry you're having a tough time. If you can get through the next few days hopefully the pain will subside.

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

All good suggestions - but I would also add - give it some time. I EP and my volumes definitely increased over time. I would say keep doing what your doing and in two weeks time you will see an increase. As time went on, I was even able to drop pumps and increase supply - but it did take time to get there. Good luck!!

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

Message edited 8/11/2013 5:56:24 PM.

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

For from week 1-3 of dd's life breast feeding hurt me to the point I would flex my feet to keep from screaming. Then magically one day the pain was gone and my nipples toughened up. I used lanolin after she nursed.

It's is totally normal to hurt in the beginning.

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

Agree with the above, even with the best latch that amount of wear and tear/moisture etc on the nipple for most people will cause scabbing/cracking and bleeding (and the pain that goes with that) for the first several weeks (then it does seem to magically go away on its own). I also did the toe curling thing. You can use nipple shields in the beginning even if its just to give your nips some time to heal in between the constant nursings. Anyway that's if you want to try and go back to BFing in addition to or instead of pumping or to boost your pumping supply.

If not then I would follow all of the above suggestions, also if you can take some video of your baby doing something that really tugs at your heart strings and watch that while you are pumping it may help. When I pumped at work I always got the best letdown/pumping session watching a video of my DS having a crying meltdown, not pleasant but it did the job haha

Good luck, you are doing the best you can, which is all you can ask of yourself!!

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

My DD is also a newborn. The first few days home from the hospital were so rough with breastfeeding and I felt like a total failure that was starving her newborn I'm still having a hard time and am not sure she's getting enough to eat. I'm also not drinking or eating enough.

You've gotten some great advice from the BTDTs. I just want to say you are not alone and I know how you feel and hopefully it does get better.

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

With my first ds I saw stars every time I nursed him for a good month. I was cracked and bleeding and pumping on top of that. He had a barracuda grip it hurt but I gave it time and my nipples toughened up and after that was fine.

My second ds was a nicu baby so I had to use the nipple shield to get him to latch. He latched like a pro but I never had the cracking or bleeding or pain I had the first time. I used the shield for a few weeks until I weaned him off. I would definitely recommend it. Babies get way more then what you get from a pump. I still pump twice a day for back up.

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

I personally find the pump inefficient. I ebf and I know my ds is eating a lot. However, when I pump I get maybe an ounce and a half from each breast after pumping 40 minutes. My ds's sucking really pulls the milk out. The pumping is eh. One trick I heard and I think is true if you need more milk.. Eat popcorn.

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

I have done a lot of reading and research and latching your baby is really the BEST for building and boosting your milk supply. Nothing pulls the milk down like a baby sucking and the first few weeks is really crucial to establish your supply.

I know the pain you feel. I felt it too, it was almost unbearable but I somehow stuck it out. I winced & writhed in pain every time she latched 8x a day for 8 long weeks. That is how long it took the pain to go away..ughh! But it was worth it and I would not change a thing!

Also I really believe eating carbs helps your supply! Oatmeal and pasta are great! Lots of water and gatorade….and the herbal tea or fenugreek will help too!

Good luck and hang in there!

Re: The moms that bf or pump please help

The moms that bf or pump please help

I pumped for about 6 months with my twins and found that sometimes upping the settings on the pump was necessary. Like if I was at a 5, I tried 6 or 7 and all of a sudden whoooosh, tons more milk, no real difference in the sensation on my end.

I typically pumped for 30 minutes (sometimes longer) even if milk stopped flowing and then would catch a second let down with more milk. This, staying hydrated and relaxed, and making sure my pump was in good order (clean tubes, pieces all attached well), helped me pump for my twins and also build a bit of a freezer supply.

Good luck, pumping can be challenging, but you are doing great by even trying and sticking through the first few weeks (which are toughies!)